Paul Finebaum fires back at Heather Dinich criticizing Alabama being ranked higher than LSU in preseason Coaches Poll

The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off a season where they failed to win double-digit games for the first time since 2007. That amounted to Alabama being ranked ninth in the preseason coaches poll, the lowest they’ve been since 2008. Still, for some, that ranking was too high.

One of those who thinks Alabama is ranked a bit too highly to start the season is Heather Dinich. She appeared on Get Up Tuesday morning. There, she argued that the LSU Tigers should be ranked ahead of the Crimson Tide.

“It’s Alabama,” Heather Dinich said. “Why are they getting so much credit? Did they all of a sudden get LSU’s quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier? Because last I checked, they had some question marks there. Look… I think Kalen DeBoer has some questions to answer and LSU should be ranked ahead of them right now, even though they’re gonna lose to Clemson in the season opener.”

LSU and Alabama are both coming off 9-4 seasons last year, though the Tigers won their bowl game. For Dinich, the biggest difference is the security they have at quarterback. Alabama is still in the midst of a quarterback battle, which Ty Simpson is expected to win. LSU, meanwhile, could have the first quarterback taken in next year’s NFL Draft with Garrett Nussmeier.

Regardless, Paul Finebaum was quick to push back at Heather Dinich. In particular, he wanted to remind her that Alabama got the upper hand on LSU last season.

“I’m stuck in Kalen DeBoer’s guest room right now,” Finebaum said. “And he just told me to remind you what happened last year in Baton Rouge. LSU had a really good team and that same great quarterback, and they went in there and wiped the floor of the stadium in this case with the LSU Tigers.”

Ultimately, those preseason polls mean very little. Finebaum knows that, and even referenced the last time Alabama was ranked as low as they are now. That season, 2008, Alabama went on to play in the SEC Championship Game.

“Think about this for a second, Alabama is ranked lower in this poll than any poll since 2008. That was Nick Saban‘s second year,” Finebaum said. “And they only became the number one team in the country before losing this year. So, ultimately, this looks bad to me. Alabama is underrated. I, frankly, think they’re better than this, and, Heather, calm down already. The season is still four weeks away.”

Both Alabama and LSU open the season with interesting non-conference games. They’ll both travel on the road to ACC venues, with the Crimson Tide taking on a Florida State team looking to bounce back while the Tigers are set to play a Clemson team with national championship hopes. LSU will have to wait until November to travel to Tuscaloosa and take their shot at Alabama this season.